N. Korea fires two short-range ballistic missiles amid U.S.-S Korea landing exercise

SEOUL -- North Korea has fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea while South Korea is conducting a joint military exercise with the United States. This is the eighth missile launch committed by Pyeongyang only in 2023.
 
The missiles detected by the South's military authorities were fired near Junghwa County, some 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of Pyongyang. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) flew about 370 kilometers. Without disclosing specific information, the JCS said it is figuring out their altitude and speed.
 
The provocation took place only four days after the demonstration of an underwater attack weapon system at Riwon County some 345 kilometers northeast of Seoul from March 21 to 23. The underwater nuclear attack drone is capable of being deployed at any coast and port, or towed by a surface ship for operation.
 
Haeil was deployed on the coast of Riwon on March 21 to reach a mock enemy empty port with a test warhead by cruising along an oval and 8-shaped pattern course at an underwater depth of 80 to 150 meters (492 feet) for 59 hours and 12 minutes before detonation.
 
Followed by "Freedom Shield," an 11-day S. Korea-U.S. joint drill that ended on March 23, the two countries began a landing exercise that involves Marine troops and Navy forces from both sides on March 20.
 
Earlier this month, Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, warned that military responses followed by the North's strategic weapon tests conducted outside the U.S. jurisdiction will be considered a declaration of war on her country. She is currently serving as the vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.